Labornet Japan is a network of citizens, unionists, activists, scholars and others from all walks of life to share information especially about rights and struggles in and outside of Japan. Established in 2001, the group now has more than 500 members, and the membership is growing. The English site introduces some reports shared on Labornet Japan website and other sources outside of Japan.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

On September 13, 2014, there was a meeting to
commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Japan-DPRK (Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea) Pyongyang Declaration for normalizing diplomatic
relations between the two countries in central Tokyo, participated by 160
people. A report of NISHINO Rumiko, the co-leader of the VAWW RAC (Violence Against Women in War
Research Action Center), on former “comfort women” in North Korea was very shocking. In 1993, 131 women declared as victims of comfort
women as a result of a survey in North Korea on them. The number increased to
218 in 2000 and, according to Nishino, 43 women among them testified
publicly. Photos of cuts and burns of cigarette, which they suffered when they
resisted the Japanese rulers, were displayed. (OZAWA Kuniko)

The “Occupy the METI (Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry)” tent has continued for three years for a nuke-free
society. The world’s longest-lasting “Occupy” tent has been a place for free
speech for people demanding denuclearization and peace. There have been
harassment and intimidation by right wingers, the police and the METI itself,
but approximately 800 people came to the tent to reconfirm that they have
continued the “Tent City”, which is a symbol against nukes, and will never
allow the restart of a nuclear power plant in the future. The gathering was
also joined by YOSHIZAWA Masami, who continues to manage a dairy farm in Namie
Town, Fukushima Prefecture despite the danger of exposure, and others from
nuclear disaster-stricken areas. The tent has stood for three years in front of
the powerful METI. KAMATA Satoshi, a nonfiction writer, called this struggle
for democracy a “great and historical struggle”. (MATSUMOTO Chie)

On September 6, 2014, the “Most Evil
Corporation of the Year Award Ceremony” was held in central Tokyo. Among 11
nominated companies and workplaces, Yamada Denki, one of the biggest mass
retailers of electric appliances in Japan, “won” the grand prize. Despite that
many store managers have committed suicide due to overwork and still many
others are on the brink of karoshi, death of overwork, Yamada Denki has not
shown any remorse for this terrible situation. The Industry Prize was “awarded”
to A1-Pictures and Fuji Beauty (Takano Yuri Beauty Clinic). The Special Prize
was “awarded” to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly for insufficient measures
against sexual harassment. The “More Effort Needed” Prize was “awarded” to
Zensho Holdings that manages Sukiya beef bowl restaurant chain. KAWAZOE Makoto,
an executive committee member of the ceremony, commented, “It was very
difficult to select relevant companies. Any of them was eligible for the grand
prize. This shows the Labor Standards Act is widely violated and many companies
are becoming more and more evil in Japan. The power of public opinion and trade
unions is absolutely necessary to halt this negative tendency”. (M)